Fuel-air explosive device

ABSTRACT

An explosive device is provided in the form of an inflated spherical bag or envelope which is filled with an explosive mixture of fuel and air. In this way, a maximum of explosive effect is attained with a minimum of weight and bulk. The device is useful in warfare where dense foliage is encountered since it can be inflated and laid or dropped upon the top of trees, bushes or the like where its explosive effect will have a wider range than if the explosion took place down inside the foliage.

United States Patent Byrne 1 Apr. 25, 1972 154] F UEL-AIR EXPLOSIVE DEVICE [72] Inventor: Robert W. Byrne, Ballwin, Mo.

[73] Assignee: Thiokol Chemical Corporation, Bristol, Pa. 221 Filed: Apr. 8, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 26,487

[52] US. Cl ..102/6, 102/9, 102/9, 181/.5 NC, 340/12 R [51] Int. Cl ..F42b 25/14 [58] Field of Search 102/2, 9, 6', 181/5 1C; 340/12; 102/90, 66

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,039,559 6/1962 Ellsworth ..18l/.5 1C 2,679,205 5/1954 Piety ...l02/21 X 1,272,333 7/1918 Daly ..l02/9 7/1951 Rieber ..340/l2 R 3,072,829 1/1963 McDonal 2,586,706 2/1952 Parr, Jr. 3,499,384 3/1970 Zernow et a1 ..l02/6 Primary E.\'aminerSamuel W. Engle Attorney-William R. Wright, Jr,

[5 7] ABSTRACT An explosive device is provided in the form of an inflated spherical bag or envelope which is filled with an explosive mixture of fuel and air. In this way, a maximum of explosive effect is attained with a minimum of weight and bulk. The device is useful in warfare where dense foliage is encountered since it can be inflated and laid or dropped upon the top of trees, bushes or the like where its explosive effect will have a wider range than if the explosion took place down inside the foliage.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 25 I972 Fig.|

Fig.2

Roberf W Byme INVENTOR.

The present invention relates to a device for producing an explosion but differs considerably from a conventional bomb in that; when it is in the explosive condition, it comprises a substantially spherical bag or envelope inflated with an explosive mixture of fuel and air.

There are a number of advantages to be gained from the present invention such as portability in a safe, relatively inert condition, small size while being transported due to its deflated state, less weight as compared to an ordinary explosive since no oxidizer need be carried along and no heavy container is required. In addition, 'an explosive force of large effective area is achieved by virtue of the spherical shape and the final large volume of the fuel-air mixture at the time of the explosion. To provide the same effective explosion force in a conventional bomb would require a large, heavy and cumbersome device by comparison.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a new type of bomb or explosive device which gives a larger or equivalent explosive effect for a smaller amount of weight and bulk than is possible with an ordinary bomb by providing an envelope, balloon or bag inflated by an explosive mixture of fuel and air.

It is also an object of the present invention 'to provide an explosive device of the foregoing type which can be laid upon the tops of dense foliage such as trees or brush and exploded there.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an explosive device of the foregoing type which can be inserted into a tunnel or other confined place in a deflated condition and then inflated there and exploded.

lt is also an object of the present invention to provide an explosive device of the foregoing type which is safer to transport and deploy than ordinary bombs since it it is not transported in its explosive condition.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the drawings and description which follow.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partially cross sectional view of the explosive bag in its inflated condition ready for deployment;

F IG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the concentric fuel and air inlets.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 in which a flexible, substantially spherical bag or envelope made of rubber, rubberized fabric, plastic or some other flexible and yet substantially airtight material, is attached in communicating relationship to a source of gaseous fuel such as fuel supply tank 11. The tank is connected through valve 12 by pipe 14, and pipe 14 is intended to be screwed in place in the center of air inlet collar or shroud 13 in the manner shown. Inlet collar 13 is bell or one-half Venturishaped for the easy entry of air and for aspirating effect and is open to the interior of envelope 10 with a spider-supported threaded hub 15 at its center to receive the pipe 14 which extends upward from valve 12 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Collar 13 has an annular flange 13a about its upper rim which is in contact with the inside of the envelope 10 and serves, in cooperation with circular segments 16, to act as a clamp for the envelope 's flexible material, the segments 17 and the flange 13a being riveted or otherwise fastened tightly together.

Substantially at the geometric center of spherical envelope 10 is a pyrotechnic igniter 17 adapted to be set in operation by switch 18. Both of these are supported by tensile members such as cords or lanyards 19 which extend radially outward to the envelope 10 and are attached to it with cords 19 being of sufficient length that they will support igniter 17 at or near the center of the envelope 10 when it is in a fully inflated condition as shown in FIG. 1. The interior of the envelope 10 may be coated or lined with metal beads or foil in order to help concentrate the radiant energy of any heat within the envelope 10 at its center where the igniter 17 is located and thus aid its qperation and the ignition of the fuel.

The uels used in the present Invention are intended to be any fuels which are originally gaseous or become gaseous upon emission from the fuel tank. Propane or butane fuels compressed in suitable tanks are the most appropriate for this purpose although other similar fuels or a low temperature gas generator may be used instead.

In operation, the deflated envelope 10 is intended to be grasped by the inlet collar 13 and the fuel tank pipe 14 is screwed into place in boss 15 after which the whole device is ready for deployment. This is accomplished by first opening valve 12 either by hand, electromagnetically or by remote radio means to allow the envelope 10 to inflate partially and then laying, either by hand or by parachute air drop, the partially inflated envelope over the area where it is desired for the explosion to occur. The envelope l0 continues to fill with gaseous fuel mixed with air which it draws into envelope 10 because of the aspirating Bernoulli effect of the entering fuel as it passes rapidly through the inlet 13 after leaving pipe 14, the air inlet area being designed to create both the aspiration and to provide sufficient air for an explosive mixture to be formed with the fuel inside the envelope 10. Finally, the envelope 10 becomes fully inflated with this explosive mixture of fuel and air after which the pyrotechnic igniter 17 is fired either by means of a radio signal to switch 18 or, optionally, by means of a pressure signal to switch 18 set to function when the full inflation pressure of the envelope 10 is reached. The slight positive pressure sufficient to maintain the envelope in an inflated state is produced by the incoming pressurized fuel and the incoming rush of entrained air as they enter through the relatively small area of the inlet and which continues until the envelope 10 is substantially completely filled and the explosion occurs.

As the igniter 17 operates, the fuel in the envelope 10 becomes ignited and burns with explosive rapidity, bursting the envelope 10 and allowing the explosive effect to be disseminated over a wide surrounding area.

As was mentioned previously in this specification, the explosive device may be deployed in a confined space, such as a tunnel, if desired by placing it therein, opening the valve to inflate the envelope 10 at least to the general contour of its environment and then exploding the device by allowing or causing operation of switch 18 and igniter 17.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

1 claim 1. An explosive device comprising, in combination, an inflatable envelope, a tank of pressurized fuel, an aspirating air inlet to said envelope, a fuel conduit entended from said tank into said air inlet and exiting there, a valve in said conduit, an igniter exposed to the envelopes interior, means for initiating operation of said igniter, and the aspirating air inlet comprising a collar open both to the envelope and to the atmosphere and substantially surrounding but spaced from said inlet conduit to define a substantially annular space therebetween for the entry of air, whereby fuel flowing from the conduit causes air to be drawn into the envelope along with the fuel and the fuel becomes ignited therein.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 with the collar shaped in the form of one-half of a Venturi nozzle with its larger end open to the atmosphere and the fuel conduit exit located substantially just upstream of its most constricted portion.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2 with the fuel supply tank and conduit detachably attached to said collar. 

1. An explosive device comprising, in combination, an inflatable envelope, a tank of pressurized fuel, an aspirating air inlet to said envelope, a fuel conduit entended from said tank into said air inlet and exiting there, a valve in said conduit, an igniter exposed to the envelope''s interior, means for initiating operation of said igniter, and the aspirating air inlet comprising a collar open both to the envelope and to the atmosphere and substantially surrounding but spaced from said inlet conduit to define a substantially annular space therebetween for the entry of air, whereby fuel flowing from the conduit causes air to be drawn into the envelope along with the fuel and the fuel becomes ignited therein.
 2. The invention set forth in claim 1 with the collar shaped in the form of one-half of a Venturi nozzle with its larger end open to the atmosphere and the fuel conduit exit located substantially just upstream of its most constricted portion.
 3. The invention set forth in claim 2 with the fuel supply tank and conduit detachably attached to said collar. 